Who We
Are
The North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) is strategically poised to provide place-based, agile support to federal, state, academic, local, and other institutions to conduct research that enables effective management and sustainable use of marine resources. From the graduate-level to the leading global experts in their fields, NPRB maintains its reputation of providing reliable trusted funding for Alaska’s diverse marine research community since 2002.
MORE THAn A Funding institution
The Board recommends marine research to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to be funded through a competitive grant program using part of the interest earned from the Environmental Improvement and Restoration Fund (EIRF) created under the same law. The EIRF was part of a large settlement ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court pertaining to a dispute over land in the Arctic known as Dinkum Sands. The enabling legislation requires the funds to be used to conduct research on or relating to the fisheries or marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean, including lesser known bodies of water. By law, NPRB must strive to avoid duplicating other research and to emphasize research designed to address pressing fishery management issues or marine ecosystem information needs.
NPRB is not just a granting organization, but plays an important leadership role in identifying science, management, and monitoring needs while shaping scientific directives through competitive request for proposals. Since inception, NPRB continues to strengthen the integrity of the scientific review process, establish innovative and inclusive solutions for communication and outreach, and partner with like-minded institutions (e.g., the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Naval Research, North Slope Borough/Shell Baseline Studies Program) on shared investments in research. With the broad suite of funding programs tailored for large and small research endeavors, NPRB has the flexibility to address timely environmental issues (e.g., the Cold Pool) and offer larger-scale, multi-organizational collaborative platforms to address ecosystem-level questions.
Mission Statement
To develop a comprehensive science program of the highest caliber that provides a better understanding of the North Pacific, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean ecosystems and their fisheries. The work of the NPRB will be conducted through science planning, prioritization of pressing fishery management and ecosystem information needs, coordination and cooperation among research programs, competitive selection of research projects, enhanced information availability, and public involvement.
Purpose & Vision
To facilitate and fund research to increase understanding of North Pacific marine ecosystems and sustainable use of their fisheries and other resources. The NPRB will be a broadly influential force in collaborative marine research, balancing the most pressing fishery management and ecosystem information needs of the North Pacific.
Current BIEnnial Report
This biennial report marks 20 years of North Pacific Research Board support for marine research in Alaska’s waters. NPRB continues to set the standard for funding high quality marine research that sparks scientific inquiry and informs a wide range of users. Since 2002, NPRB has supported three major integrated ecosystem research programs, over 1,000 subawards, 94 graduate students, three long-term monitoring projects, and activities that provide the infrastructure to conduct and communicate science.
Enabling Legislation
The North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) was created by Congress under Title IV of H.R. 2107, signed into law on November 14, 1997 as P.L. 105-83 and codified as 43 U.S.C. §1474d. The Board was established in 2001. The Board is authorized to recommend marine research to the Secretary of Commerce to be funded through a competitive grant program using part of the interest earned from the Environmental Improvement and Restoration Fund (EIRF) created under 43 U.S.C. §1474d. The EIRF was part of a large settlement by the U.S. Supreme Court pertaining to a land dispute in the Arctic known as Dinkum Sands. The enabling legislation requires the funds to be used to conduct research on or relating to the fisheries or marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean. NPRB must strive to avoid duplicating other research and must emphasize research designed to address pressing fishery management issues or marine ecosystem information needs.
background: Michael Langhans; credit: Sean Neilson
credit: Caitlin McKinstry
credit: Brendan Smith/NPRB
credit: David Forcucci
credit: Mark Morones
credit: Chris Linder
Organization Goals & Objectives
The Board fields an extensive and collaborative scientific program to further investigate the marine ecosystems off Alaska, their structure, function, and interactions, and how these ecosystems and the living marine resources within them vary over time and space. Five organizational goals have been identified by the Board.
Improve understanding of North Pacific marine ecosystem dynamics and use of the resources.
Foster cooperation with other entities conducting research and management in the North Pacific, and work toward common goals for North Pacific marine ecosystems.
Improve ability to forecast and respond to effects of changes, through integration of various research activities, including long-term monitoring.
Improve ability to manage and protect the healthy, sustainable fish and wildlife populations comprising of the ecologically diverse marine ecosystems of the North Pacific, and provide long-term benefits to local communities and the nation.
Support high quality projects that promise long- term results as well as those with more immediate applicability.
